Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. dribbles the ball up court against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Knicks returned to Madison Square Garden as close to rolling as they have been all season, off a 2-2 West Coast trip and actually talking about momentum, which seemed like they might be getting ahead of themselves.
It was a tenuous time for them when they last appeared at home. David Fizdale was let go as coach and replaced by interim coach Mike Miller, who barely had time to get into the seat before they lost a game at home and headed out on the road for nine days, the sort of trip that often breaks teams far more accomplished than this one.